Community mourns Georgina, teenager who sadly took her own life News

The Keswick community is reeling from the heartbreaking loss of 17-year-old Dylan Edgill, who died by suicide. The shocking news has shocked the community, leaving friends, relatives and neighbors struggling with disbelief.

Dylan's mother, Julie Edgill, posted a heartfelt message of support on GoFundMe, sharing the pain of losing her beloved son and dealing with the sudden financial burden of his funeral expenses.

She described Dylan as an embodiment of light and joy, a beloved son, friend and young man who touched everyone's life.

“For anyone who knew Dylan, he was a light in every room,” his mother said.

“He came back from school in Japan during the March holidays and the kids said he was on a trip. He even ate a tarantula.”

Despite his outward happiness, Dylan struggled with his mental health for years and eventually succumbed to a sense of purposelessness, his mother said.

“He thought he had no purpose,” Julie said. “The day he died was the first day of Suicide Awareness Week. I explained suicide to everyone at the funeral.”

“For me, he knew what this week was all about and wanted to make sure there was more awareness. If he could save one life, that was his goal. I will do everything I can to show that it has a purpose, even after it has passed.

Dylan was known for his intelligence, charm and infectious sense of humor. At school, Dylan was deeply involved in drama and captivated the audience with his talent on stage. The news of his death shocked his peers, teachers and the entire school community.

Following this tragedy, social media platforms were flooded with outpouring of support and condolences as residents came together to mourn the loss of one of their own.

“The support from friends, neighbors, family, Keswick High School, people I've never met has been overwhelming, especially since I lost my dad on the day of Dylan's funeral,” Julie said. “They should have been there together.”

As the community grieves, there is a collective call to raise awareness and support for mental health issues, and to remind people of the importance of accessing help and support when needed.

“He waited a long time for a referral to a psychiatrist and when we did, he didn't seem to care what the issues were and just wanted to give him medication,” Julie said. “It was too late by then.”

“Mental health is a big issue for kids and it takes a long time to get help,” said the mother. “Somebody needs to fix this before more kids get hurt. This is unacceptable.”

Annika Smith explained on social media: “This serves as a reminder to reach out to those who seem good.”

“Some people are in battles that no one knows about, so be kind!”

Canada has launched a new, 24-hour national emergency hotline: Canada 9-8-8